July 12, 2012

WASHINGTON (JTA) — The Romney campaign never planned a fundraiser in Jerusalem for the fast of Tisha b’Av, a senior campaign official said.

The official reached out to JTA on Thursday to push back against reports that a fundraiser during Mitt Romney’s planned Israel visit was scheduled for the Jewish fast day mourning the destruction of the Temples, among other calamities.

This year Tisha b’Av falls on July 29.

Subsequent reports said the Romney campaign canceled the event once its officials realized July 29 was a fast day.

A donor who will be attending the fundraiser told JTA that the event had always been scheduled for past nightfall on July 29, which means that it will not coincide with the fast day.

The campaign official would not confirm whether there would be a fundraiser during the Israel visit of Romney, the presumptive GOP presidential candidate and former Massachusetts governor, but said that the campaign has been careful in planning the visit to work around the traditions and sensitivities of the fast day.

“The campaign has been aware of the sensitivities of Tisha b’Av,” said the official.  

Reports have said that the fundraiser will cost between $50,000 and $60,000 a plate.

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